Associating first and second watermarks with audio or video content

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to processing audio or video content. One claim recites an apparatus comprising: electronic memory for storing media representing audio or video content; and an electronic logic processor. The electronic processor is programmed for: embedding a protect watermark in the media, the protect watermark providing an indication that the media is protected; embedding a rights watermark in the media, the rights watermark providing an indication of user rights associated with rendering the audio or video content, in which the protect watermark is more difficult to remove from the media relative to the rights watermark; and reproducing the audio or video content after said embedding a protect watermark in the media and embedding a rights watermark in the media. Other claims and combinations are provided as well.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 obtaining media representing audio or video content; 
 using an electronic logic processor: i) embedding a protect watermark in the media, the protect watermark providing an indication that the media is protected; and ii) embedding a rights watermark in the media, the rights watermark providing an indication of user rights associated with rendering the audio or video content, in which the protect watermark is more difficult to remove from the media relative to the rights watermark; and 
 reproducing the audio or video content after said acts of embedding a protect watermark in the media and embedding a rights watermark in the media. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  in which the rights watermark includes a link between the media and at least one of a user, player, recorder or storage device. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2  in which the link determines if the user may copy or play the audio or video content. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  in which the protect watermark is embedded prior to embedding the rights watermark. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  in which said embedding the protect watermark in the media is more computationally intense relative to said embedding the rights watermark in the media. 
     
     
       6. An electronic logic processor programmed to perform the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       7. A method comprising:
 obtaining media representing audio or video content, in which the media includes a protect watermark embedded therein, the protect watermark providing an indication that the media is protected, and in which the media further includes a rights watermark embedded therein, the rights watermark providing an indication of user rights associated with rendering the audio or video content, the protect watermark being more difficult to remove from the media relative to the rights watermark; 
 using an electronic logic processor, analyzing the media to retrieve the protect watermark only when the rights watermark does not exist in the media. 
 
     
     
       8. An electronic logic processor programmed to analyze the media according to the method of  claim 7 . 
     
     
       9. An apparatus comprising:
 electronic memory for storing media representing audio or video content; 
 an electronic logic processor programmed for:
 embedding a protect watermark in the media, the protect watermark providing an indication that the media is protected; 
 embedding a rights watermark in the media, the rights watermark providing an indication of user rights associated with rendering the audio or video content, in which the protect watermark is more difficult to remove from the media relative to the rights watermark; and 
 reproducing the audio or video content after said embedding a protect watermark in the media and embedding a rights watermark in the media. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9  in which the rights watermark includes a link between the media and at least one of a user, player, recorder or storage device. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 10  in which the link determines if the user may copy or play the audio or video content. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 9  in which the protect watermark is embedded prior to embedding the rights watermark. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 9  in which said embedding the protect watermark in the media is more computationally intense relative to said embedding the rights watermark in the media. 
     
     
       14. An apparatus comprising:
 electronic memory for storing media representing audio or video content, in which the media includes a protect watermark embedded therein, the protect watermark providing an indication that the media is protected, and in which the media further includes a rights watermark embedded therein, the rights watermark providing an indication of user rights associated with rendering the audio or video content, the protect watermark being more difficult to remove from the media relative to the rights watermark; 
 an electronic logic processor programmed for analyzing the media to retrieve the protect watermark only when the rights watermark does not exist in the media.